Licuala grandis or the Ruffled Fan Palm is a very attractive small palm from the Pacific region which features spectacular, bright green, undivided, pleated leaves that make up an (almost) circle around one metre across.
The edges of the leaves are notched and care should be taken around them as they can inflict cuts on passers by.
This plant may only ever produce up to twelve leaves, but due to their size it has an overall verdant look to it.
Ruffled Fan Palms produce pretty clusters of fragrant, white to cream/yellow blossoms early in the summer.
These flowers are attractive to pollinators and tend to last well into mid summer when they mature into hard, green fruits which eventually turn bright red. Licuala fruits are not edible for humans, but birds and fruit bats like them.
These are slow growing, single trunked, small trees that can reach up to 5m in height but are most often seen in pots where the size of the pot will determine the eventual height of the plant.
They can be grown outdoors in most states of Australia but in the cooler climates this plant will need to be brought indoors over winter.
They make an excellent statement on patios or in other shady spots.